Pharmacy Council of India – constitution and functions MCQs With Answer

Pharmacy Council of India – constitution and functions MCQs With Answer

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) is the statutory body established under the Pharmacy Act, 1948 to regulate pharmacy education and professional practice in India. This introduction outlines PCI’s constitution, core functions such as prescribing minimum standards for D.Pharm, B.Pharm and Pharm.D courses, inspection and approval of institutions, and advisory role to the Central Government and State Pharmacy Councils. B.Pharm students should understand PCI’s role in curriculum, inspections, recognition of qualifications, and interaction with State Councils for registration and discipline. These MCQs focus on substantive issues and practical details relevant to academic training and professional registration. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Under which Act was the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) constituted?

• Pharmacy Act, 1948
• Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940
• Medical Council Act, 1956
• Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947

Correct Answer: Pharmacy Act, 1948

Q2. What is the primary statutory function of the Pharmacy Council of India?

• Prescribing minimum standards of pharmacy education
• Manufacturing drugs for public distribution
• Licensing pharmaceutical companies
• Running hospital pharmacies nationwide

Correct Answer: Prescribing minimum standards of pharmacy education

Q3. The Pharmacy Council of India is a statutory body under which Central Government ministry?

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
• Ministry of Education
• Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers
• Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Correct Answer: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Q4. Where is the headquarters of the Pharmacy Council of India located?

• Mumbai
• New Delhi
• Kolkata
• Chennai

Correct Answer: New Delhi

Q5. Which body must grant approval for starting a new B.Pharm college in India?

• Pharmacy Council of India
• State Drug Inspectorate only
• All India Council for Technical Education alone
• Local municipal authority

Correct Answer: Pharmacy Council of India

Q6. Which authority maintains the register of pharmacists for the purpose of professional registration?

• State Pharmacy Council
• Pharmacy Council of India
• Ministry of Education
• Central Drugs Standard Control Organization

Correct Answer: State Pharmacy Council

Q7. Does the Pharmacy Council of India directly conduct licensing examinations for individual pharmacists?

• No, registration and disciplinary matters are handled by State Pharmacy Councils
• Yes, PCI conducts national licensing exams annually
• Only for foreign-qualified pharmacists
• Only for diploma holders, not degree holders

Correct Answer: No, registration and disciplinary matters are handled by State Pharmacy Councils

Q8. Which of the following education-related roles is performed by PCI?

• Prescribing minimum syllabus and practical training for B.Pharm
• Awarding university degrees in pharmacy
• Running undergraduate teaching programs
• Issuing student identity cards

Correct Answer: Prescribing minimum syllabus and practical training for B.Pharm

Q9. Does PCI carry out inspections of pharmacy institutions to ensure compliance with standards?

• Yes, PCI inspects institutions and prepares inspection reports
• No, inspections are never conducted by PCI
• Inspections are only done by state police
• Only universities inspect colleges, not PCI

Correct Answer: Yes, PCI inspects institutions and prepares inspection reports

Q10. The Pharmacy Council of India recognizes pharmacy qualifications primarily conferred by which bodies?

• Universities and institutions approved by PCI
• Private coaching centers
• State drug inspectorates
• Pharmaceutical companies

Correct Answer: Universities and institutions approved by PCI

Q11. Does the PCI recommend duration and nature of internship or practical training for B.Pharm or Pharm.D?

• Yes, PCI provides guidelines on internship and practical training
• No, internships are defined by employers only
• Only state governments decide internship duration
• Internships are not required for pharmacy courses

Correct Answer: Yes, PCI provides guidelines on internship and practical training

Q12. Which body has statutory power to remove a pharmacist’s name from the professional register?

• State Pharmacy Council
• Pharmacy Council of India directly
• Ministry of Finance
• National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority

Correct Answer: State Pharmacy Council

Q13. Does PCI set minimum standards for the Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) course?

• Yes, PCI prescribes minimum standards for D.Pharm
• No, D.Pharm is unregulated
• Only universities set D.Pharm standards independently
• Standards are set by the Central Drugs Laboratory

Correct Answer: Yes, PCI prescribes minimum standards for D.Pharm

Q14. The constitution of PCI includes representatives from which of the following?

• State Pharmacy Councils and universities
• Only pharmaceutical industry representatives
• Only medical doctors
• Only students

Correct Answer: State Pharmacy Councils and universities

Q15. One of the functions of PCI is to advise which authority on pharmacy education and practice?

• The Central Government
• Local pharmacies only
• International pharmaceutical companies exclusively
• State police departments

Correct Answer: The Central Government

Q16. Who has the authority to approve an increase in student intake for an existing pharmacy college?

• Pharmacy Council of India
• Students’ union of the college
• Local school board
• State Forest Department

Correct Answer: Pharmacy Council of India

Q17. Which statement best describes PCI’s role in course accreditation?

• PCI assesses institutions and grants recognition to pharmacy courses based on standards
• PCI only handles student scholarships, not accreditation
• PCI manufactures textbooks for colleges
• PCI conducts campus placement drives

Correct Answer: PCI assesses institutions and grants recognition to pharmacy courses based on standards

Q18. What minimum pharmacy qualification is generally recognized for initial registration as a pharmacist?

• Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm)
• M.Pharm only
• PhD in Chemistry only
• High school certificate only

Correct Answer: Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm)

Q19. What is the full form of PCI in the context of pharmacy regulation in India?

• Pharmacy Council of India
• Pharmaceutical Companies of India
• Patent Council of India
• Primary Care Institute

Correct Answer: Pharmacy Council of India

Q20. PCI’s regulatory scope covers which of the following areas?

• Pharmacy education standards and professional practice regulation
• Only drug pricing and distribution
• Only hospital administration
• Only veterinary medicines

Correct Answer: Pharmacy education standards and professional practice regulation

Q21. Can the Pharmacy Council of India directly suspend the registration of an individual pharmacist?

• No, disciplinary action against registered pharmacists is primarily by State Pharmacy Councils
• Yes, PCI can directly suspend individual registrations nationwide
• Only the Supreme Court can suspend pharmacists
• Pharmaceutical companies can suspend registrations

Correct Answer: No, disciplinary action against registered pharmacists is primarily by State Pharmacy Councils

Q22. Which of the following best summarizes the main responsibilities of PCI?

• Setting educational standards, inspecting institutions, recognizing qualifications, and advising government
• Manufacturing vaccines and distributing them
• Running retail pharmacy chains across India
• Issuing patents for new drugs

Correct Answer: Setting educational standards, inspecting institutions, recognizing qualifications, and advising government

Q23. Does PCI prepare inspection reports that influence recognition or de-recognition of pharmacy programs?

• Yes, inspection reports are used to assess compliance and recognition
• No, PCI does not prepare inspection reports
• Inspection reports are only prepared by students
• Only the Ministry of Finance prepares such reports

Correct Answer: Yes, inspection reports are used to assess compliance and recognition

Q24. Which courses are generally recognized by PCI as qualifying for pharmacy practice?

• Diploma and Degree in Pharmacy (D.Pharm and B.Pharm)
• Only MBBS
• Only BE in Biotechnology
• Only diploma in nursing

Correct Answer: Diploma and Degree in Pharmacy (D.Pharm and B.Pharm)

Q25. Who is primarily responsible for enforcement of the professional code of conduct and disciplinary action for pharmacists?

• State Pharmacy Council
• Pharmacy Council of India directly
• Local trade unions
• Pharmaceutical wholesalers’ association

Correct Answer: State Pharmacy Council

Q26. For recognition of a new B.Pharm course, what key activity does PCI undertake?

• Inspection and assessment of infrastructure, faculty, and curriculum
• Approval by student referendum
• Issuing building permits for the college campus
• Manufacturing laboratory equipment

Correct Answer: Inspection and assessment of infrastructure, faculty, and curriculum

Q27. Does PCI prescribe clinical training standards for the Pharm.D program?

• Yes, PCI defines required clinical training and internship norms
• No, Pharm.D has no clinical component
• Only nursing councils prescribe clinical training
• Clinical training is optional and unregulated

Correct Answer: Yes, PCI defines required clinical training and internship norms

Q28. Which primary legal document defines the constitution and functions of the Pharmacy Council of India?

• The Pharmacy Act, 1948
• The Indian Penal Code
• The Companies Act
• The Information Technology Act

Correct Answer: The Pharmacy Act, 1948

Q29. Does the Central Government have the power to nominate members to the Pharmacy Council of India?

• Yes, the Central Government nominates certain members to PCI
• No, all members are elected by students only
• Members are appointed by state governors exclusively
• Only the President of India appoints members directly

Correct Answer: Yes, the Central Government nominates certain members to PCI

Q30. Which authority issues the final registration certificate allowing a person to practice as a pharmacist in a particular state?

• State Pharmacy Council
• Pharmacy Council of India
• Ministry of Education
• Central Drug Laboratory

Correct Answer: State Pharmacy Council

G S Sachin

I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.

Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com